Experts in the field of foreign direct investment (FDI), reacting to stagnant or declining investment flows in 2012, discussed how cooperation within regions could help developing countries make stable economic progress.

Improving infrastructure, making the tax system "friendlier" for small businesses, and taking advantage of Djibouti's geographical location were among topics reviewed as officials considered how to boost foreign investment.

The trade and investment nexus, and its relationship between regional integration and TNC strategies, is the subject of the forthcoming UNCTAD expert meeting being held in Geneva on investment for productive capacity-building and sustainable development.

The United Nations is organizing a series of consultations on various themes to support governments to agree on a post-2015 development agenda for when the Millennium Development Goals expire. Growth and employment is one of these thematic areas.

According to preliminary estimates by the WTO and UNCTAD, in the third quarter of 2012, world exports of commercial services shrank by 2 %, as compared with the same quarter last year. Preliminary figures (balance-of-payments basis, current prices) indicate the sharp drop in services exports in Europe (-7%), while the services trade growth also slowed, but remained positive in North America (2%) and Asia and Oceania (4%).

UNCTAD's Virtual Institute (Vi) welcomed the sixteenth Colombian university to the network on 4 December. The admission of Universidad de Santo Tomás, from the city of Bucaramanga, has expanded the Vi affiliate network to 32 institutions. Colombia is the country with the highest representation in UNCTAD's programme for academic cooperation.

Senior Southeast Asian officials assessed cyber-legislation and made recommendations for the harmonization of e-commerce laws at a joint ASEAN/UNCTAD workshop held in Cebu, the Philippines, on 10 and 11 November 2012. The outcome was reported to the twelfth ASEAN Telecommunications Senior Officials’ Meeting (TELSOM). ​